New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-21
TODAY IN THE ABBEY.


commemorate two events separated by an In
terval of year Early in the morning of June
90, 1887, William ". died in Windsor Castle
and Victoria, his niece succeeded to the throne
The coronation was deferred until june %.
1888 The two events are to be celebrated
to-day in the thanksgiving service at West
minister Abbey, upon the completion OF tho
flftieth year of the Queens reign.
A characteristic story is told of the circum-
stances in which the Princess first learned OF
the destiny awaiting her. When she was in
her thirteenth year arrangements were made
in Parliament for the proclamation OF Re-
gency if the King should die before her
eighteenth birthday. She had lived with her
mother in retirement at Kcnsington Palace.
and had never been told that she was in the
direct line Of succession to the throne. Her
mother and tutors agreed that the time had
come when she should be warned Of the ro-
sponsibilities of the future DR.. Davys asked
her to draw genealogical table of English
royalty. After pulling over the upper branch
es of the tree for a. long time, she looked up
with an earnest, surprised face. 81 cannot
soc,- she said, who is to come after Uncle
William unless it is myself at is very
solemn thing she added, when her tutor had
assured her that she had made no mistake
There is splcndor, but there is responsibility.
/ will be good Her girlhood from this time
was sobered by thoughts of her coming reign.
When, six years afterward, having passed her
eighteenth birthday, she received at 8 O'Clock
In the morning the news of the Kings death.
she was young in years, but mature In thought
scf-possessed in manner and with a mind OF
her own The Archbishop Of Canterbury the
Lord Chamb erlain and the Royal physician.
who formed her first deputaton were greatly
impressed with her dignifcd bearing, her COM
posure and her womanlincss A few hours
aftorward when she received the members Of
her first Council with Viscount Melbourne at
their head. this favorable impression was
greatly strengthened These veterans Of the
public service perceived that it, no gddy or
ill-disciphned girl who had succeeded to the
English throne but princess of genuine force
of character, swayed by sense of response
bility.
When the coronation ceremonies occurred
the Queen had been for year on the throne.
She had already opened her first Parliament
and become accustomed to the duties and
privileges Of her exalted station. There was
procession Of State equipagcs by route two
or three miles long to enable all London and
half million visitors from rural England to
sec their youthful sovereign. The Queen en-
tered tho Abbey, as her enthusiastic biographers
declare, gay as lark and happy as bride.
and without showing signs of fatigue performed
her part in st. Dunstans interminable consccra-
ton service as if she had frequently been
crowned before. The administration of the
oaths of State and Church, the offering of tho
ingot Of gold on the altar the amounting Of her
hands and forehead with oil, the occupation
of Edward tho Confessors chair, the betrothal
with the ring of rubies, and at last the corona
ton itself and communion Office occupied the
greater part of tho afternoon 1t is this
royal and religious pageant Of fifty years ago
that is to be cOmmcmoratcd by grateful ma
ton to-day on tho anniversary Of her succession
to the Crown and the details of the procession.
the seating arrangements in the Abbey, and
many features of the ceremonial itself are to
be patterned closely after the last browning
pageant in the Abbey